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The 2014 United States Senate election in Maine took place on November 4, 2014. Incumbent Republican Senator Susan Collins, who had served in the position since 1997, won election to a fourth term in office with 68% of the vote.[1][2] The primary elections were held on June 10, 2014.
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Collins: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% >90% Bellows: 50–60% 60–70% >90% | |||||||||||||||||
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As of 2024, this was the last time the Republican candidate won the counties of Cumberland and Knox.[3]
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Candidates
Declared
- Susan Collins, incumbent U.S. Senator[4][5]
Write-in candidates
Declined
- Scott D'Amboise, former Lisbon Falls Selectman and candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2012[9]
- Bruce Poliquin, former State Treasurer, candidate for Governor in 2010 and candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2012 (ran for ME-02)[10]
- Mark Willis, former Maine Republican National Committeeman[9]
Campaign
Maine Republican Party Chairman Rick Bennett was critical of Erick Bennett's campaign, stating that he did not believe Erick would get the necessary signatures to get on the ballot. After making it clear the two men are not related, Rick felt that this would be due to Erick's views as expressed on his Facebook page. These included referring to U.S. Representative Mike Michaud as a "closet homo" and criticism of Nelson Mandela, comparing him to Stalin and Karl Marx.[11] Furthermore, Erick Bennett was convicted in 2003 of assaulting his wife, which was upheld by the Maine Supreme Judicial Court, though he maintains his innocence.[12] Rick Bennett stated that Erick's views "do not represent the views of the Republican Party".[11]
Erick Bennett announced before the primary filing deadline on March 17 that he had left the Republican Party and would run as an independent.[6] Maine law, however, requires that an independent candidate must have not been in a political party by March 1 of the election year in order to run as an independent, meaning Bennett cannot legally run as such.[13] The Kennebec Journal reported that Bennett was a write-in candidate for the Republican nomination.[8]
On April 3, 2014, Collins' campaign announced the joint endorsement of Bath Iron Works' labor unions, which the campaign claimed was the first time the unions issued a joint endorsement as well as the first time they endorsed a Republican candidate for federal office.[14]
Polling
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Susan Collins |
Bruce Poliquin |
Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Policy Polling[15] | August 23–25, 2013 | 321 | ± 5.5% | 64% | 24% | 12% |
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Susan Collins |
Charlie Summers |
Other | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Policy Polling[16] | January 18–20, 2013 | 430 | ± 4.7% | 58% | 31% | — | 11% |
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Susan Collins |
Someone more conservative |
Other |
Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Policy Polling[16] | January 18–20, 2013 | 430 | ± 4.7% | 49% | 46% | — | 6% |
| Public Policy Polling[15] | August 23–25, 2013 | 321 | ± 5.5% | 47% | 48% | — | 5% |
| Public Policy Polling[17] | November 8–11, 2013 | 331 | ± 5.4% | 48% | 44% | — | 7% |
Hypothetical polling
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Susan Collins (incumbent) | 59,767 | 100.00% | |
| Total votes | 59,767 | 100.00% | ||
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Candidates
Declared
- Shenna Bellows, former executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Maine[19][20]
Declined
- Emily Cain, state senator (ran for ME-02)[21]
- Mike Michaud, U.S. Representative (ran for Governor)[22]
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Shenna Bellows | 65,085 | 100.00% | |
| Total votes | 65,085 | 100.00% | ||
To qualify as an independent candidate for the U.S. Senate in Maine, a candidate needs to submit at least 4,000 valid signatures to the secretary of state by June 1. Any independent candidate must not have been enrolled in a political party after March 1 of the year the election occurs.[23]
Former Republican candidate Erick Bennett announced just before the March 17 primary filing deadline that he had left the Republican Party and would run as an independent, but Maine law required him to have unenrolled as a Republican by March 1 to do so. Therefore, he could not legally run as an independent.[6][13]
Candidates
Declared
- Erick Bennett, conservative activist and director of the Maine Equal Rights Center (unenrolled as a Republican, see Campaign section)[6]
Declined
- Mike Turcotte, adjunct professor at Eastern Maine Community College[24]
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Background
Heading into the 2014 cycle, only 12 U.S. Senate elections had involved two major party female nominees in U.S. history.[25]
Candidates
- Shenna Bellows (Democratic), former executive director of the Maine ACLU
- Susan Collins (Republican), incumbent U.S. Senator
Endorsements
Susan Collins (R)
Politicians
- Angus King, U.S. Senator (I-ME)[26]
- Joe Manchin, U.S. Senator (D-WV)[27]
- Rand Paul, U.S. Senator (R-KY)[28]
Unions
- Bath Marine Draftsman's Association[14]
- Independent Guards Association[14]
- International Association of Machinists Local S6 and S7[14]
- Union of Painters & Allied Trades District Council 35[29]
Organizations
Newspapers
Shenna Bellows (D)
Politicians and other individuals
- Justin Alfond, President of the Maine Senate[33]
- Tom Andrews, former U.S. Representative (D-ME)[34]
- Michael Douglas, actor[35]
- Barney Frank, former U.S. Representative (D-MA)[34]
- Tess Gerritsen, author[33]
- Stephen King, author [36]
- Mike Michaud. U.S. Representative (D-ME), candidate for Governor[34]
- Bob Monks, shareholder activists[33]
- Chellie Pingree, U.S. Representative (D-ME)[34]
- Donald Sussman, philanthropist and financier, husband of Rep. Pingree[33]
Unions
- American Postal Worker Union[37]
- International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers[37]
- Iron Workers Local 7[37]
- LIUNA Local 327[37]
- Maine AFL-CIO[38]
- Maine State Nurses Association[37]
- Maine State Building and Construction Trades Council[37]
- Teamsters Local 340[37]
- United Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 716[37]
- United Steelworkers Local 449[37]
Organizations
- Alliance for Retired Americans[34]
- Council for a Livable World[34]
- Democracy for America[39]
- Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee[34]
- EMILY's list[40]
- Feminist Majority[34]
- Freethought Equality Fund PAC [41]
- Maine People's Alliance[34]
- Marijuana Policy Project[42]
- MoveOn[34]
- National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws[42]
- National Organization for Women[34]
- People for the American Way[34]
- Progressive Change Campaign Committee[43]
- Students for a New American Politics[44]
Declined to endorse
- MaineToday Media newspapers[45]
- Sportsman's Alliance of Maine[46]
Predictions
| Source | Ranking | As of |
|---|---|---|
| The Cook Political Report[47] | Solid R | November 3, 2014 |
| Sabato's Crystal Ball[48] | Safe R | November 3, 2014 |
| Rothenberg Political Report[49] | Safe R | November 3, 2014 |
| Real Clear Politics[50] | Safe R | November 3, 2014 |
Polling
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Susan Collins (R) |
Shenna Bellows (D) |
Other | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Policy Polling[17] | November 8–11, 2013 | 964 | ± 3.2% | 59% | 20% | — | 22% |
| Rasmussen Reports[51] | April 23–25, 2014 | 830 | ± 3% | 60% | 24% | 6% | 9% |
| University of New Hampshire[52] | June 12–18, 2014 | 527 | ± 4.3% | 72% | 17% | — | 10% |
| CBS News/NYT/YouGov[53] | July 5–24, 2014 | 1,356 | ± 2.7% | 63% | 28% | 2% | 6% |
| Public Policy Polling*[54] | August 16–18, 2014 | 679 | ± 3.8% | 57% | 33% | — | 10% |
| CBS News/NYT/YouGov[55] | August 18 – September 2, 2014 | 1,202 | ± 4% | 58% | 26% | 3% | 12% |
| Rasmussen Reports[56] | September 3–4, 2014 | 750 | ± 4% | 59% | 31% | 2% | 7% |
| University of New Hampshire[57] | September 18–25, 2014 | 482 | ± 4.4% | 59% | 29% | — | 11% |
| CBS News/NYT/YouGov[58] | September 20 – October 1, 2014 | 1,531 | ± 3% | 57% | 33% | 1% | 9% |
| Pan Atlantic SMS[59] | September 23–29, 2014 | 400 | ± 4.9% | 68% | 25% | — | 7% |
| Bangor Daily News/Ipsos[60] | October 6–12, 2014 | 540 LV | ± 4.8% | 56% | 31% | 5%[61] | 7% |
| 903 RV | ± 3.7% | 53% | 31% | 7%[62] | 10% | ||
| University of New Hampshire[63] | October 15–21, 2014 | 667 | ± 3.8% | 65% | 30% | — | 4% |
| Pan Atlantic SMS[64] | October 15–21, 2014 | 400 | ± 4.9% | 67% | 27% | — | 7% |
| CBS News/NYT/YouGov[58] | October 16–23, 2014 | 1,177 | ± 5% | 54% | 35% | 0% | 10% |
| Bangor Daily News/Ipsos[65] | October 23–29, 2014 | 488 | ± 5.1% | 64% | 32% | 2% | 3% |
| Maine People's Resource Center[66] | October 31 – November 2, 2014 | 906 | ± 3.25% | 57% | 37% | — | 5% |
- * Internal poll for Shenna Bellows campaign
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Susan Collins (R) |
Eliot Cutler (I) |
Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Policy Polling[15] | August 23–25, 2013 | 953 | ± 3.2% | 53% | 33% | 14% |
| Maine People's Resource Center[67] | September 8–10, 2013 | 652 | ± 3.84% | 58% | 28% | 14% |
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Susan Collins (R) |
Stephen King (D) |
Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Policy Polling[15] | August 23–25, 2013 | 953 | ± 3.2% | 54% | 31% | 15% |
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Susan Collins (R) |
Mike Michaud (D) |
Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Policy Polling[16] | January 18–20, 2013 | 1,268 | ± 2.8% | 54% | 36% | 10% |
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Susan Collins (R) |
Chellie Pingree (D) |
Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Policy Polling[16] | January 18–20, 2013 | 1,268 | ± 2.8% | 58% | 33% | 9% |
| Public Policy Polling[15] | August 23–25, 2013 | 953 | ± 3.2% | 57% | 34% | 9% |
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Susan Collins (R) |
Generic Democrat |
Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maine People's Resource Center[67] | September 8–10, 2013 | 652 | ± 3.84% | 60% | 26% | 15% |
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Bruce Poliquin (R) |
Chellie Pingree (D) |
Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Policy Polling[15] | August 23–25, 2013 | 953 | ± 3.2% | 33% | 47% | 20% |
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Charlie Summers (R) |
Mike Michaud (D) |
Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Policy Polling[16] | January 18–20, 2013 | 1,268 | ± 2.8% | 32% | 57% | 12% |
| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size |
Margin of error |
Charlie Summers (R) |
Chellie Pingree (D) |
Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Policy Polling[16] | January 18–20, 2013 | 1,268 | ± 2.8% | 39% | 50% | 11% |
Hypothetical polling
With Collins
With Poliquin
With Summers
Results
The election was not close, with Collins winning all 16 of Maine's counties, each by a margin of at least 24 percentage points.[68]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Susan Collins (incumbent) | 413,495 | 68.46% | +7.13% | |
| Democratic | Shenna Bellows | 190,244 | 31.50% | −7.08% | |
| Write-in | 269 | 0.04% | -0.05% | ||
| Total votes | 604,008 | 100.00% | N/A | ||
| Republican hold | |||||
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